Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 10, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 19 By Chelsie Vokes Chelsie Vokes is a labor and employment lawyer at Worcester law firm Bowditch & Dewey. 10) Pregnant workers will soon have more legal power so they can work safely and deal with health conditions. Regulations interpreting the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act go into effect on June 18. 9) Federal pregnancy protection rules were way out of date. When Congress passed PWFA last year, it marked the first major expansion of pregnant workers' rights in more than four decades. While Massachusetts updated its law in 2018, the federal regulations contain new rules. 8) The law does not just apply to preg- nant workers. It covers childbirth and conditions related to reproductive health, including menstruation, infertility, endome- triosis, and postpartum depression. 7) Abortion accommodations, including leave to have the procedure, are explic- itly required by the law, and it's incredibly controversial. The Equal Employment Op- portunity Commission decided to include abortion protections in its final regulations, but now 17 states – all with Republican at- torneys general – are suing the government. 6) Pregnant workers and other eligible employees will have the right to ask their bosses to waive essential job functions temporarily. They may be excused from tasks such as lifting heavy objects. 5) Eligible employees may get some accommodations automatically. These include taking more bathroom breaks, get- ting access to food and water more often, and being allowed to sit or stand more. 4) Eligible employees may ask to work remotely or request a shift in hours, if they need to go to a doctor's appointment or suffer from morning sickness. 3) The law applies to eligible job appli- cants. Employers need to make accommo- dations for interviews, but they should not ask anything about pregnancy. 2) Employers will need to expand their training programs. People who direct em- ployee tasks, even if they aren't supervisors, need to know how to respond to requests. 1) Not all businesses need to comply. Those with fewer than 15 employees are exempt federally, but those with more than six must comply with state law. Yesterday's mechanic is today's technician, and that's good news BY SLOANE M. PERRON Special to WBJ T echnology is hastening global- ization like never before. Remote jobs and hybrid options means companies can hire talent from all over the world. However, as interconnectivity grows, managers face the challenge of working with employees across various time zones. Establishing expectations, clear communication, and leveraging soware are all ways you can make sure your team is on the same page, no matter where they work. Establish expectations. It is important to make sure everyone understands their roles and expectations before they are even hired for a remote position. Being a remote employee requires trust, since they cannot physically be monitored. As a result, being clear on routine, outlin- ing schedules, and being precise when giving assignments provides a sense of stability for your team, according to LinkedIn. Prioritize asynchronous communi- cation. Regular meetings and real-time check-ins are helpful but can be a hassle to schedule. While real-time meetings are essential for important topics, most of the everyday workload can be done through asynchronous communication. "Asynchronous communication is what makes remote teamwork sustainable, and when time zones are wide apart, it's essential. Agree on reply times, and which communication channels you will use ... You need to develop formal systems to capture informal conversa- tions," Pilar Orti, director at Virtual Not Distant, said in an interview with e Washington Post. Implement software. Even though employees may be in different places, they need to be focused on the same goal. Soware like Slack and Asana improve productivity by allowing pro- fessionals to manage their piece of the company's puzzle. Project management and scheduling tools lay everything out clearly so team members can confidently work independently but contribute as a team, said Grant Merriel from B2BHQ. Whether in another state or around the globe, businesses can work successfully in different time zones. MANAGING EMPLOYEES ACROSS TIME ZONES BY TIM WINKELER Special to WBJ I n today's economy, nothing seems to come cheap anymore. From bar tabs and grocery bills to monthly rent, inflation in America is a harsh reality. While U.S. inflation has slowed, basic expenses can still be incredibly high for many Americans, especially in New England, one of the most expensive regions in the country. ree of the top 10 most expensive states in America are in New England: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. You know what else is expensive? Owning and maintaining a car. e average annual cost to own and operate a new car is more than $12,000, which includes monthly payments, maintenance, and repairs. e typical driver spends nearly $2,300 a year for full coverage auto insurance. Maintenance and repairs can run up to $1,500 annually. is matters when 56% of U.S. adults wouldn't use savings to pay for an emergency expense of $1,000, according to a Bankrate survey. Do you know how to bring the cost down? Find the right automotive pro- fessional. Back in the day, auto repairers used to be called mechanics, and they didn't always have the best reputation. Customers oen accused mechanics of overcharging and underdelivering, and many still do. Unfortunately, dishonest or disinterested mechanics still don't treat their customers right. Worse, they exploit a customer's lack of knowledge to charge more for less. Companies in the auto repair indus- try are changing their ways or learning from the failures of others. Drivers should stay informed about all aspects of their vehicle, from maintenance to the repair process itself. Instead of just finding the closest or cheapest option for a tire replacement or to diagnose a problem, drivers should take the extra time to identify the best possible out- come. e best-case scenario is getting it 100% right. e quickest, cheapest fixes may end up costing someone much more in the long run. Today, vehicle owners are best served looking for qualified and certified automotive technicians, rather than mere mechanics. Certified technicians or certified automotive professionals have the most knowledge. Because cars have changed so much over the decades, technicians know how to deal with ex- tremely complex, highly computerized vehicles. is requires advanced digital tools, a substantial amount of training, and hands-on experience. Technicians have the know-how to help drivers make the best decisions. ey look at the vehicle holistically, factoring in the technologies to explain why it may be performing inadequately. e emergence of electric vehicles adds to the complexity and computerization of the modern car, but technicians know how to deal with them too. eir skills keep up with the changing times. Today's technicians increase their knowledge through Automotive Service Excellence certifications and other for- mal protocols, such as the training ses- sions offered by Garage Gurus and the Tire Industry Association certification. ese certifications provide assurance of the best possible outcomes when you're dealing with a vehicle issue. You want your car working right for the long haul and at an affordable price. You don't want to keep coming back to the same mechanic because they haven't solved your problem. But, in 2024, the best solution is a certified automotive professional. Find the right one, and having a car is a lot less stressful. 10 Things I know about … ... Pregnancy in the workplace Tim Winkeler serves as president and CEO of VIP Tires & Service in Worcester. W W W

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